JCP recommends appointments for three high courts

The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) on Monday recommended the confirmation and appointment of judges to the Sindh, Islamabad and Peshawar high courts, besides approving an extension in the tenure of constitutional benches of the Sindh High Court (SHC).

According to a press release issued by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, the JCP, in its respective compositions for the SHC, Islamabad High Court (IHC) and Peshawar High Court (PHC), met under the chairmanship of Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi at the Supreme Court building in Islamabad.

The meeting, held from 2pm to 5:30pm, considered the confirmation of additional judges, appointment of new additional judges and extension of constitutional benches.

In the SHC, the commission, by a majority of its total membership, recommended a six-month extension in the tenure of additional judge Justice Khalid Hussain Shahani after considering the relevant data forms, antecedents and evaluation material placed before it.

However, it did not confirm additional judge Justice Syed Fiaz ul Hassan Shah. It also recommended, by a majority, a three-month extension in the tenure of the SHC's constitutional benches.

While considering appointments to the SHC, the commission recommended the appointment of advocate Muhammad Humayon Khan, District and Sessions Judge Suresh Kumar and Advocate Dr Shah Nawaz Memon as additional judges.

It said two of the five advertised vacancies remained unfilled because the remaining nominees failed to secure the required majority of the commission's total membership.

For the IHC, the commission recommended the appointment of Advocate Ayyaz Shaukat, District and Sessions Judge Shahrukh Arjumand and Advocate Umair Majeed Malik as additional judges.